Just had a Bach Werckmeister rehearsal with 3 violins

In case there is interest on the list, I thought I'd share the experience I
had tonight in Brooklyn. It was a first rehearsal of the solo violin,
ritornello violin 1 and ritornello violin 2. The music street now considers
that Bach had in mind only 1 string instrument to a part. That's better for
me because I am playing 1 of 2 alto recorders for the Brandenburg Concerto #4
in G major.

So I hand them a little 12 note chart of Werckmeister tuning in cents. Now,
my alto recorder is scotch taped to a perfect Werckmeister scale. I could
photocopy it in a photocopier and then someone could tape another alto
recorder to the same modifications. This means that we could all play a
scale where they would match me: the recorder set a standard pitch.

Then we played through. Wow. Julianne Klopotic said aloud, "this tuning is
so beautiful. I didn't think it could sound like this." Soloist Dan Auerbach
seemed in shock in the train ride back to Manhattan. "Why don't people know
about this? Why isn't this taught in the conservatories? Why don't I go
back to a University to get this out there and myself proper recognition and
degree?" See, he didn't know about Columbia University.

Each person seemed to prefer a different way of thinking of it. They tried
real hard to hear the semitonal movements. It through them off. They
started hearing flatter notes as sharper! I redirected their ears and mind
so that they could hear the relationship, in G Major of each interval's
specialness. Ah, now it was starting to click. Dan announced, "how many
fiths and how many thirds?"

Good question, 2 sizes of fifth and 4 sizes of third. But Julianne was more
interested in the variety of 39 intervals at 6 cents apart. Maxim was
quieter. His playing did his talking...really beautiful. They all picked it
up rapidly (one hour). There are only 2 more rehearsals. At the end, there
is a unison between violins which was played exquisitely. Hope they can do
that on April 30th. That's when the music should peak.

Best, Johnny Reinhard

--- In tuning@y..., Afmmjr@a... wrote:

/tuning/topicId_35872.html#35872

>
> Good question, 2 sizes of fifth and 4 sizes of third. But Julianne
was more interested in the variety of 39 intervals at 6 cents
apart. Maxim was quieter. His playing did his talking...really
beautiful. They all picked it up rapidly (one hour). There are
only 2 more rehearsals. At the end, there is a unison between
violins which was played exquisitely. Hope they can do that on April
30th. That's when the music should peak.
>
> Best, Johnny Reinhard

****Thanks so much, Johnny, for the rehearsal update! Sounds like
things are in the "Werks!" (groan)

Just in case anybody missed the e-mails, all the details of Johnny's
fantastic concerts this Spring are now on the AFMM website:

http://www.echonyc.com/~jhhl/AFMM/afmm.020310.htm

...Well, I'm a board member, so a little "biased" but still...

jp

Thank you so much for sharing that story Johnny. Warms the heart.

--- In tuning@y..., Afmmjr@a... wrote:
> In case there is interest on the list, I thought I'd share the
experience I
> had tonight in Brooklyn. It was a first rehearsal of the solo
violin,
> ritornello violin 1 and ritornello violin 2. The music street now
considers
> that Bach had in mind only 1 string instrument to a part. That's
better for
> me because I am playing 1 of 2 alto recorders for the Brandenburg
Concerto #4
> in G major.
>
> So I hand them a little 12 note chart of Werckmeister tuning in
cents. Now,
> my alto recorder is scotch taped to a perfect Werckmeister scale.
I could
> photocopy it in a photocopier and then someone could tape another
alto
> recorder to the same modifications. This means that we could all
play a
> scale where they would match me: the recorder set a standard pitch.
>
> Then we played through. Wow. Julianne Klopotic said aloud, "this
tuning is
> so beautiful. I didn't think it could sound like this." Soloist
Dan Auerbach
> seemed in shock in the train ride back to Manhattan. "Why don't
people know
> about this? Why isn't this taught in the conservatories? Why
don't I go
> back to a University to get this out there and myself proper
recognition and
> degree?" See, he didn't know about Columbia University.
>
> Each person seemed to prefer a different way of thinking of it.
They tried
> real hard to hear the semitonal movements. It through them off.
They
> started hearing flatter notes as sharper! I redirected their ears
and mind
> so that they could hear the relationship, in G Major of each
interval's
> specialness. Ah, now it was starting to click. Dan
announced, "how many
> fiths and how many thirds?"
>
> Good question, 2 sizes of fifth and 4 sizes of third. But Julianne
was more
> interested in the variety of 39 intervals at 6 cents apart. Maxim
was
> quieter. His playing did his talking...really beautiful. They all
picked it
> up rapidly (one hour). There are only 2 more rehearsals. At the
end, there
> is a unison between violins which was played exquisitely. Hope
they can do
> that on April 30th. That's when the music should peak.
>
> Best, Johnny Reinhard

great account, johnny. thanks for sharing it!